Timipire Sylva, the recently appointed Minister of Petroleum, is scheduled to testify before the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja on Tuesday, November 11, 2023, in opposition to the announcement of Governor Douye Diri as the victor of the state’s governorship election.

Sylva, the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) candidate for governor in the governor’s race, will serve as a star witness in his lawsuit to overturn Diri’s declaration of election as governor.

The APC governorship candidate would provide evidence alongside Senior Advocates of Nigeria Ahmed Raji and Ogwu James Onoja, according to a hearing notice obtained by PROPOLITICS.

It is anticipated that the former minister and governor of the same Bayelsa State wouldgive the Tribunal his version of events surrounding the most recent gubernatorial contest.

After Sylva’s evidence, Diri, the election winner and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, would cross-examine him regarding the truthfulness of any accusations and allegations the witness might make.

Leading the group of seasoned attorneys led by Chris Uche, SAN, is the legal representation of Governor Diri at the Tribunal.

The APC candidate for governor would also be allowed to be cross-examined on his claims against the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC, which oversaw the contentious election.

Professor Faruq Kuta, the Returning Officer, reports that Diri and the PDP received 175,196 votes, defeating the APC’s Timipre Sylva, who received 110,108 votes.

Not content, Sylva andAPC filed a petition with the tribunal over Diri’s designation as the election’s victor.

The Tribunal’s Chairman, Justice Adekunle Adeleye, will chair today’s meeting.